Slide assemblies for extension tables



Dec. 31, 1968 H. MUTCHNIK ET AL 3,419,317

SLIDE ASSEMBLIES FOR EXTENSION TABLES Filed Aug. 9, 1967 Sheet of 3 INVENTORS f/wey Mu raw/wk M52 l/IA/ Murcwm/k v BY I I I TTORNEY Dec. 31, 1968 H. MUTCHNIK ET AL 3,4

SLIDE ASSEMBLIES FOR EXTENSION TABLES I NV E NTOR 8 Heme) Murcw/v/K Ma w/v Munw/v/K /ml ATTORNEY Dec. 31, 1968 H. MUTCHNIK ETAL 3,419,317

SLIDE ASSEMBLIES FOR EXTENSION TABLES Sheet Filed Aug. 9, 1967 INVENTOR-S A wey Marc/l ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,419,317 SLIDE ASSEMBLIES FOR EXTENSION TABLES Henry Mutchnik and Melvin Mutchnik, both of 5804 Gist Ave., Baltimore, Md. 21215 Filed Aug. 9, 1967, Ser. No. 659,442 6 Claims. (Cl. 3083.6)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention is concerned with a slide assembly adapted to be afiixed to the underside of an extension table to permit one or more additional table leaves to be inserted between the extensible sides of the table for support on at least a pair of laterally displaced slide assemblies. Each slide assembly is formed solely of two reciprocable sheet metal slides, which may be stamped economically from relatively thin gauge metal without any waste of material and without need for any costly assembly procedures and operations. The special contours which are imparted to the slides make possible the easy relative reciprocation between them without jamming while at the same time giving rise to a tightness in fit between the parts to render them inseparable against lateral movement. The stamped contours of the slides which impart maximum strength thereto and provide for the limits of relative movement therebetween also make possible a reduction in the length and width of the stampings from which the slides are produced. This results in a saving of over in material, with a consequent corresponding reduction in cost of the units.

This invention relates to an extension table slide assembly and is particularly concerned with the fabrication of a compact and reliable assembly formed of sheet metal, which may be mass-produced and assembled at low cost.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an all-metal slide assembly which is adapted to be affixed to the underside of table tops to permit the extension thereof for the accommodation of additional table-top leaves and which may be retracted easily following the removal of the latter.

It is another object of the invention to simplify the construction of an extension slide assembly formed of a pair of sheet metal slide components so that such may be fabricated economically, and for any given gauge of metal being used, maximum strength loadings can be attained with minimal amounts of material. The extension slides may be produced in varying lengths. Furthermore, the assembly is formed only of the two slide components with no additional retaining means, so that fabricating and assembly operations are reduced to a minimum.

The extension slide assemblies of the instant invention exhibit maximum strength characteristics by forming the vertical webs of each slide of stepped configuration. Also, the assembly is characterized by only a single set of stop elements formed by metallic projections which are bent and stamped from the respective slides, which limits its extension. This feature reduces the number of fabricating machine operations and eliminates the need for any extraneous additional parts which require aflixation to the parts of the slide assembly with the attendant costs of material and labor. Furthermore, the metal in the slides is used most efficiently to impart maximum strength thereto.

The assembly in its preferred form provides for such an interengagement between the slide components that their lateral separation is prevented, so that when the slides are fastened to the bottom of the sections of a table, they are incapable of relative movement laterally with respect to each other, so that their attachment to the table sections may be executed rapidly without need for any subsequent adjustment to avoid the binding of the parts in the course of their operation.

The invention is concerned with a simplification of extension table slide assemblies of the type known in the prior art as exemplified by that shown in Patent No. 2,860,939, Nov. 18, 1958.

It is the object of the invention to produce a slide assembly composed of the slide components only, which may be stamped from a running length of sheet metal, with no waste. The slide components are fabricated in such a way and are mounted upon the underside of the table sections in such a relationship that the free ends of the slide components are non-coincident in the contracted position of the assembly when the table top sections are in abutting relation. Upon their extension, the table tops may be separated an amount sufficient to ac commodate at least one table leaf while the parts of the slides are in overlapping relation. This permits a shortening of the lengths of the slides to effect a saving of approximately 20% in material with the consequent reduction in cost of the units.

The shortening of the slide components is compensated by the attainment of a tighter interengagement between them, which is partly realized by modifying the contours of the ernbossments or protuberances on the horizontal flanges which are in contact with the bottom surfaces of the table tops.

When the slides are affixed to the table tops, the upper portions thereof are caused to be toed-in towards each other, which results in a tight contact of the slides adjacent to the upper portions thereof. Furthermore, the assembly of the two components of the slide may be effected by a rocking movement between them, to the exclusion of any endwise movement, which contributes to the tightness of the interengagement between the slides along a pair of nested channels forming part of the vertical webs therein and which prevent a lateral translating movement following the assembly and mounting of the slides.

The simple assembling procedure of the slides makes possible the shipment thereof in a knock-down state to realize economies in the freight shipments thereof, since the freight shipping rates vary between the transport of goods in integrated and separate units.

The invention also contemplates the saving of material by the provision of a stop lug which is operative in the fully extended position of the slides, and which lug is derived from a notch formed in the horizontal flange of the next succeeding slide element, without affecting in any way the strength or functioning of the latter.

Other objects and purposes will appear from the detailed description of the invention following hereinafter, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an extension table illustrating the application thereto of a pair of slide assemblies in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view along line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the slide assembly shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the slide assembly in accord ance with the invention as shown in FIG. 3, but with the latter in contracted position when the table top sections are in abutting relation with each other;

FIG. 5 is a left end view of the slide assembly shown in FIGS. 1 to 4;

FIG. 6 is a right end view of the slide assembly shown in FIGS. 1 to 4;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the slide components prior to their interengagement;

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view along line 8--8 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a left end View of the slide assembly illustrating the mode of interengaging of the components by a rocking movement therebetween;

FIG. 10 is a right end view corresponding to FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a portion of the continuous length of sheet metal from which one of the slide components is stamped to form the .stop lug at the bottom of the slide from a notch in the horizontal flange of the next slide.

In FIG. 1 is shown an extension table composed of the companion table top sections T and T, which may be extended for the accommodation of one or more supplementary table leaves therebetween. These leaves are adapted to be supported by the slide assemblies in accordance with the invention, two of which are illustrated, in order to provide a stable support for the supplementary leaves adjacent to the opposite ends thereof, as is well known in the art. In view of the fact that each of the slide assemblies shown in FIG. 1 are of identical construction, only one is illustrated in detail in the other figures of the drawings.

Each slide assembly is composed of a pair of sheet metal slides 10 and which are shown in separated position in FIG. 7 and which are adapted to be interengaged for relative reciprocating movement in a longitudinal direction. The metallic slide 10 is provided with a horizontal flange 11 having a plurality of openings 19 adjacent one end thereof for the purpose of aflixing the slide to the underside of section T of the table by means of screw fasteners S. The companion slide 20 is formed of a horizontal flange 21 with openings 29 adjacent to one end thereof for the purpose of atfixing this slide to the underside of section T of the table top by means of screw fasteners S. As is clearly shown in the drawings, the openings 19 and 29 are disposed remotely from each other at the opposite ends of the assembly.

The vertical webs of the slides are of stepped configuration to impart greater strength thereto and are adapted to interengage with each other in a special way so that the slide elements may move reciprocably with respect to each other for a limited extent, and to be stopped in this movement by metallic projections bent and stamped from the material of the slides, so that no additional parts to perform this function are necessary.

The vertical web of the slide 10 consists of wall portion 12 adjacent to the flange 11 and an integral channel 13 of rectangular section extending laterally from the lower edge of the wall portion 12 in a direction opposite to the flange 11. The base 14 of the channel 13 extends along the complete length thereof and lateral projection 15 is disposed at the end of this base at the free end of the slide remote from the openings 19 in the horizontal flange. This lateral projection is formed of the material which is stamped from the adjacent slide whereat is formed a notch in the horizontal flange 11, and which in nowise affects the strength or functioning of the horizontal flange. The inner edge 15' of the lateral projection 15 serves as a stop lug for cooperation with the companion slide member 20, as explained in greater detail below.

A vertical web 22 extends from the horizontal flange 21 of the companion slide at the lower edge of which is formed an integral channel 23 of rectangular cross-section extending below the horizontal flange 21, with an open face directed towards the first slide so that channel 23 may receive and nest the channel 13 therein. The base 24 of channel 23 has the free edge thereof 24', curved or bent upwardly to serve as a confining track which permits longitudinal movement of the base 14 along base 24 while blocking the movement of channel 13 in a lateral transverse direction. The bent edge 24', which may be inclined at an angle of approximately 30 (FIGS. 8 to 10), extends along the major portion of the length of the base to lancing 25, and the base 24 beyond that point is bent upwardly in a substantially vertical direction to form an upstanding lip 26, the innermost end 26' of which serves as an abutment for the edge 15' of the lateral projection 15 on slide 10.

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate the mode of assembling the two slide components by a rocking movement of one relative to the other so that channel 13 is nested within channel 23 without need for any longitudinal endwise movement of one slide relative to the other to effect the assembly operation/When this rocking movement is executed with the lateral projection 15 within the field of operation of the base 24, the engagement is made with a distinct snapping movement, which is evidence of the relatively tight interengagement of the components, making the displacement thereof in a lateral direction impossible. Even when the slide components are interengaged, when they are in the position illustrated in FIG. 4, lateral translating movement between them is not possible because of the impediment offered to such, by the confining edge 24' against the lower end of channel 13.

In order to enhance the tightness of the assembly, additional expedients are built into the assembly at the protuberances which are normally provided in the horizontal flanges whereat are drilled the openings for accommodating the screw fasteners S.

As shown clearly in FIG. '7, the protuberances 17, 17' and 17" are pressed outwardly from horizontal flange 11 of slide 10, and protuberances 27, 27 and 27 are pressed from the horizontal flange 21 of slide 20. These normally decrease in elevation from the innermost protuberances 17 and 27 to the outermost protuberances 17" and 27", respectively, to tilt the table tops upwardly towards the center which serves to compensate for the loading of the inserted leaf or leaves at the center of the table. This expedient is illustrated on an enlarged scale in FIG. 2 by the inclinations I and I of the table tops T and T relative to the horizontal datum line H. In supplement to this expedient, the innermost protuberances 17 and 27 are lengthened and the lengthened walls 18 and 28, respectively, adjacent to the vertical webs 12 and 22, respectively, are pressed out to a higher degree than the outer walls 18 and 28, respectively. This arrangement is shown in an enlarged scale in FIG. 8 since this difference in elevation amounts to only about .020 to .025 inch. This differential in elevation is suflicient, when the fastening screws S interconnect the slides to the table top sections, to toe in the upper portions of the webs 12 and 22 towards each other as shown in FIG. 8, which makes possible the slides to reciprocate relative to each other without jamming, and yet tightly. Thus, no collateral restraining straps are necessary in the present assembly, as is the case in the structure of the above-mentioned Patent No. 2,860,939.

The staggered mounting of the slides in non-coincident relationship, as shown in FIG. 4 of the drawing, makes possible the extension thereof to the position shown in FIG. 3, whereat the slides remain in overlapping relationship for the extent of the length of the upstanding lip 26, which is adequate to support the overlying leaf which is adapted to be inserted between the table top sections T and T. The mounting of the slide components, as shown in FIG. 4, rather than a conventional mounting when the slides are coincident, makes possible the shortening of the slide members, for example, from nineteen inches to sixteen inches, to accommodate a table leaf having a width of twelve inches. This reduction in metal, coupled with the saving in metal afforded by a strip of approximately /s" for the entire length of the slide, for the production of the stop lug 15 in a width of approximately 2%, which is required for the stamping of slide 10, results in an approximately 20% reduction in material.

The sheet metal blank B shown in FIG. 11 indicates in solid lines the blanks which are cut out for the formation of the slides 10 with the cuts of the stop lug 15 in one slide being coincident with the notch 40 in the horizontal flange of the next succeeding slide. The dotted lines indicate the bending lines which delineate successively the angle between sections 31 and 32 to form the horizontal flange 11 and vertical web 12 adjacent to the latter and the sections 33, 34 and 35 to form the rectangular channel 13 at the lower portion of the Web 12. As indicated in FIG. 11, this pattern is repeated in the successive stamping of the slides from the roll of sheet metal.

While we have described our invention as embodied in a specific form and as operating in a specific manner for purposes of illustration, it should be understood that we do not limit our invention thereto, since various modifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of our invention, the scope of which is set forth in the annexed claims.

We claim:

1. A metallic slide assembly for an extension table comprising a pair of nested relatively reciprocable juxtaposed sheet metal slides in self-sustaining interengagement requiring no additional retaining means and with horizontal flanges at the tops of said slides diverging from each other, the upper horizontal flange of each slide having a plurality of openings along one end thereof for receiving fasteners to attach said end of each slide to the bottom of a table section, with the openings in the respective slides at the remote ends of the pair,

(a) said slides adapted to be assembled in interengaging relation by a relative rocking movement therebetween without need for any longitudinal endwise movement of one slide within the other,

(b) a vertical web extending downwardly from the horizontal flange of the first one of said slides,

(c) an integral channel of rectangular section extending laterally from the lower portion of said lastmentioned web and outwardly therefrom in a direction opposite to said last-mentioned flange,

(cl) the base of said last-mentioned channel extending in the same direction as said horizontal flange and provided with a lateral projection at one end thereof remote from the openings in said last-mentioned horizontal flange,

(e) a vertical web extending downwardly from the horizontal flange of the second one of said slides,

(f) an integral channel of rectangular section extending laterally from the lower portion of said vertical web below said last-mentioned horizontal flange with an open face directed towards said first slide, said last-mentioned channel adapted to serve as an outer guide for the integral channel on said first slide,

(g) the base of said last-mentioned channel having the major part of the free edge thereof bent upwardly at a slight inclination to confine the base of said firstmentioned channel in the course of relative reciprocating movement therebetween and preventing sepaupwardly extending lip bent from the free edge thereof adjacent to the end thereof remote from the openings in the horizontal flange of the second slide, said lip being bent at a greater vertical angle than said free edge and disposed in the path of the lateral projection on said first slide to stop the latter in the extended position of said slides, said lateral projection and the inner end of said lip being the only means on said assembly for arresting the relative reciprocating movements of said slides.

2. A metallic slide assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the lateral projection at the base of the channel of said first slide is derived from a rectangular notch in the next adjacent sheet metal blank from which is formed the next corresponding slide with the notch appearing at the free end of the horizontal flange remote from the openings therein.

3. A metallic slide assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the inclination of the major part of the free edge of the base of the channel in the second slide is approximately 30 to the horizontal while the upwardly extending lip bent from said base extends substantially vertically.

4. A metallic slide assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein protuberances are pressed outwardly from the upper face of the horizontal flange of each slide at each of the openings therein, with the side of at least the innermost protuberance adjacent to the vertical web adapted to be higher than the side adjacent to the free edge of the flanges to force the upper portions of the vertical webs into tighter engagement.

5. A metallic slide assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein the protuberances in the upper face of each horizontal flange decrease in elevation from the innermost one to the outer ones with at least the innermost protuberance being of a length greater than its width.

6. A metallic slide assembly as set forth in claim 1 adapted to have the free ends of the respective slides in non-coincident relation with the ends of the companion slides which are afiixed to the respective table sections, in the collapsed position of the slides, when the table sections are in direct abutting relation with each other.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,301,495 4/1919 Otte 3083.6 1,531,810 3/1925 Pelton 3083.6 2,011,189 8/1935 Anderson 312348 X 2,626,844 l/1953 Cooper 3083.6 2,731,317 l/l956 Duncan 3083.6 X 2,860,939 11/1958 Cooper 3083.6 3,215,475 11/1965 Manson 3083.6

MARTIN P. SCHWADRON, Primary Examiner. L. L. JOHNSON, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 108-83 

